Exclusive: Fred to fight for his future at Manchester United despite being frozen out by former manager Jose Mourinho
Fred is determined to fight for his Manchester United future in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s sacking as manager.
The Brazil international was Mourinho's only major summer signing, at £52 million, and was given assurances by the Portuguese that he would form part of his first-choice midfield with Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic. But he has been largely on the periphery since joining, making just eight league appearances as United have made their worst start to a season in 28 years.
“The fact that he is not playing makes him anxious, but what I say to him is that he must keep working hard on a daily basis, he should be patient because the club is going through a delicate moment”, Gilberto Silva, the former Arsenal midfielder and Fred’s agent, told Telegraph Sport.
“Many things have happened to him in six months. A new lifestyle, a different league and a historic club with the grandeur of United that are going under a lot of pressure. Perhaps this pressure impacts on him as well. In spite all of that, he sees everything as a learning process.
“But there is no chance of him leaving United. He has a five-year contract. It is not because the first six months were not good enough that he is willing to leave – or even after one year. Obviously when you don’t play too much it is worrying because you want to show your quality. Although from the outside view it seems there is tension regarding him not playing that much, his work on a daily basis has been good."
Fred's lack of involvement is a surprise given Mourinho had sent the player a text message during the negotiations around his transfer last summer, saying he saw the Brazilian in his first-choice midfield alongside Matic and Pogba. The trio have started just four matches together this season.
Fred, 25, was not given a place in the squad for Mourinho’s final game at Liverpool last Sunday, a common theme of his time at the club. He has also watched big games such as the Champions League tie against Juventus, the Manchester derby, and the match at Chelsea from the bench, with Mourinho claiming that he could not play the midfielder while the team remained so susceptible defensively.
“The club’s momentum does not help anybody”, added Gilberto, who held talks with Mourinho at the club's Carrington training ground in September. “It is not only related to Fred. The fact that the club is facing one of the toughest situations over the last years made Fred arrive with a huge pressure inside the club.
"Mourinho’s sacking is an example of that, and there is an impact on everybody, not only on Fred, who is grateful for Mourinho believing in his signing. There was no problem between them, only respect. Even though Fred is trying to do his best and is expecting to play more, he respects the decisions from above of him”.
